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Parade Sports | Alex McKinnon Signs with Parade Sports Management

www.parademanagement.com/talent/sports/

Sony Music Entertainment Australia is delighted to announce the signing of an exclusive management agreement with former rugby league player – Alex McKinnon, through its Parade Sports Management division.

Denis Handlin AO, Chairman & CEO, Sony Music Entertainment Australia & New Zealand and President, Asia and Director of Parade Sports, and ALEX McKINNON, announced the deal to the Sony Music and Parade staff in Sydney on Friday December 15th at Sony Music’s East Sydney headquarters.

Under the agreement with Sony Music’s Parade Sports Management, a division of the Talentworks Parade joint venture, Parade Sports Management will further develop Alex’s corporate speaking, engagement and leadership workshop activities, as well as seeking further media, sponsorship and endorsement, merchandise and licensing special IP projects. Additionally Parade Sports Management will look to create business development opportunities with Alex’s wife, Teigan McKinnon.

Alex had an illustrious career as an NRL player, debuting in 2009 at 18 years old for a Wayne Bennett coached St George Illawarra Dragons. Later he signed a 3 year contract with the Newcastle Knights in 2011. It was in 2010 he was selected in the Australian Junior Kangaroos and in 2011 Captained the victorious team. In 2013 he was selected for the Country team in the annual City vs Country Origin match. McKinnon played 46 games at the Newcastle Knights as a second row forward from 2012 through to 2014.It was in the 2014 season of the NRL where Alex suffered a serious spinal injury at the age of 22, which forced his retirement from Rugby League. McKinnon recently married his long term partner, Teigan in which he stood for their ceremony. An inspiration for all, Alex has spent the last year establishing himself as a motivational speaker across a variety of audiences, while he continues to enjoy mentoring younger NRL players as well as being passionate about sharing his journey and life changing experiences.

Sony Music Entertainment is the home of many of Australia’s leading artists including Gang of Youths, Jessica Mauboy, Delta Goodrem, Guy Sebastian, Amy Shark, Tash Sultana, Peking Duk , Human Nature, Samantha Jade, Dami Im and Anthony Callea, as well as music legends John Farnham, Midnight Oil and Daryl Braithwaite. Sony Music’s Talentworks Parade management also manages a number of these artists.

In 2015, Parade expanded into sports management through Parade Sports and signed the legendary rugby league player, captain and coach, MAL MENINGA, and immediately took on negotiating Mal’s NRL agreement to coach the Australian ‘Kangaroos’ Rugby League team as well as his other commercial and media engagements including Fox Sports. Other sports legends that are represented by Parade Sports are JOHNATHAN THURSTON and ANDREW JOHNS.

Denis Handlin AO, who also has a long connection with sports, including serving as a Mentor of the Queensland State of Origin team for over a decade, said on today’s announcement:

“We are delighted to team up with Alex. His courage and will to win is truly inspirational. There is no doubt we can all learn and be inspired by Alex’s strength, his brilliant attitude, determination and insights into life. The Parade Sports Management team are looking forward to working with Alex and his passionate and dedicated wife, Teigan to develop his career to the next level.”

Alex McKinnon, on signing with Parade Sports, said:

“I am extremely delighted to be joining Denis and his team at Sony Music. Sony is such an incredible entertainment brand worldwide, and to now be aligned with that under Denis’ leadership with the team at Parade Sports Management is something that I’m so proud and happy to be associated with.”